Yeah, tons of exceptions, but the top tier of Midwestern startups are just as credential obsessed as their coastal counterparts in my experience. And overall I

Yeah, tons of exceptions, but the top tier of Midwestern startups are just as credential obsessed as their coastal counterparts in my experience. And overall I'd say pay, benefits, and labor practices are often worse as well. Even if you don't work for some old economy company - not all are as bad as the above post suggests btw - hustle culture is often the norm. But without the six figure West Coast salary, and often less/no equity. Not to mention that if you're dissatisfied, job hopping is a lot harder to do when there are only maybe a dozen companies in town - not all of which have your tech stack. Less of an issue now with remote. Even accounting for cost of living differences you can make more on the West Coast, and be in a more competitive job market that allows you to switch jobs easily if you want more pay or are tired of your current employer. The Midwest can still work out great for many people though! Maybe you want a big house, or you have family close by, or you want a leadership role that you'd never get in a million years at your big coastal employer, etc...